Float tanks and people raving about sensory deprivation seems to be all over the media these days. From professional athletes that float, like Steph Curry and the New England Patriots, to comedians Joe Rogan and Duncan Trussell.

So what is all the hype about? And if they are that great (which, they are), how can I experience it at home?

To answer this question let’s dive a little deeper into sensory deprivation and float tanks...

What is sensory deprivation?

Sensory deprivation is technically when you “deprive” your senses of all stimulus, such as light, sound, touch, etc. Though this may sound freaky, sensory deprivation is a great way for your body to fully relax, your brain to refresh and for you to take a moment, disconnect and be with yourself. This technique is commonly used in meditation, as it allows easier access to deeper meditative states.

As you are probably thinking, it can be very difficult to get total sensory deprivation in today’s world. And that is where a sensory deprivation tank, or a float tank, comes into play. These tanks make it extremely easy to achieve this sensory deprivation. A float tank is basically a giant pod filled with body-temperature, salt-water. The water is supersaturated with epsom salt, so any person can float easily on top of the water. And, because you are in a pod, no light or sound enters, helping to completely remove you from outside stimulation. And with the relief of gravity, your mind and body can relax too.

What does it feel like to be in a sensory deprivation tank?

At first, heading into a sensory deprivation tank can seem a little scary. A lot of fear can come up around being claustrophobic and getting anxious (even though floating helps with anxiety… but more about that later). But once you get comfortable and are able to relax, being in a sensory deprivation tank is like nothing else. You feel weightless. Not only in your body but also in your mind. There is no pain in your joints or neck or back. Eventually your mind starts to relax too, you reach a state of deep meditation, and it almost feels like you are asleep.

Benefits of Floating

It's important to understand first what sensory deprivation does to the body, so you can understand why it has so many positive health benefits.

Sensory deprivation from a float tank provides the body with relaxation, relief from pressure + tension, and a chance to heal sore muscles. Float tanks are filled with over almost 1,000 pounds of epsom salt, and the magnesium in the epsom salt helps break down lactic acid that has built up in the muscles. This allows any tightness or soreness to decrease within the body and prompts muscles to relax. Also, you are lying down but fully suspended in water. This takes the pressure from work and gravity off of your body. It allows your spine and joints to be released of any weight that may be pressing down on it.

The epsom salt in the tanks also lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is our stress response hormone, and even a slight increase in stress can build up overtime increasing your cortisol levels. When our cortisol levels are too high for too long we start to experience anxiety. And floating actually lowers these cortisol levels, helping you relax.

Sensory deprivation and floating have a similar effect on the brain as meditation. But, there is much research specific to floating and the brain thanks to Dr. Feinstein at the Laureate Institute of Brain Research. His work has shown that floating in a sensory deprivation tank can have the same effect on your brain as taking anti-anxiety medication (Schumann).

Not only does floating help ease anxiety and panic, but it can also reduce chronic pain in patients suffering from fibromyalgia (Kjellgren, Anette, et al) and patients with severe whiplash (Edebol, Hanna, et al). Though these are very specific studies, floating can reduce pain and tension throughout the entire body.

Lastly, many people using floating for their creative endeavors. One study found that floating boosted creativity by assisting one to think more freely. And floating has been used as an effective tool for problem solving, brainstorming new ideas, and learning new information.

How do you achieve sensory deprivation at home?

As mentioned above, the easiest way to achieve sensory deprivation is with a float tank because that is exactly what they are designed to do. There are generally two ways to access a float tank. The first is to go to a float center. Believe it or not, there are full-on float spas popping up all over the world. CLICK HERE to find a float center near you. Some of the benefits of going to a center is you will meet like-minded people, and the employees are float experts who will be able to set you up with everything you need for an enjoyable float. However, they can get costly depending on how often you float.

Two alternatives to going to a float center are either building or buying a tank for your home. Up until only a few years ago a sensory deprivation tank would cost upwards of $20k to purchase. However, now with Zen Float Tent/Tank you can get started with a floating practice at home for just a few thousand dollars. And if you float enough this will save you money and time. Some more pro’s to having a float tank is you can float at your own convenience, no scheduling necessary. Plus, you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

There is also the option to build your own float tank. The founder of Zen Float Co. built his own home tank about 8 years ago.All of his plans to build an at-home float tank can be found online at isolationtankplans.com. This comes with shopping lists, receipts and step-by-step instructions.

Confused about what option would be the best for you?

Register for a FREE float consultationwith one of Zen’s floating experts by clicking the button below. They will be able to answer any questions and come up with a solution of the best floating options for you and your lifestyle.

Norlander, Torsten, et al. “Treating Stress-Related Pain with the Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique: Are There Differences between Women and Men?”Pain Research & Management : The Journal of the Canadian Pain Society, Pulsus Group Inc, 2009.

Three years ago we were just 3 guys with a dream, a dream to make floating affordable. When we realized that water could be held in flexible affordable materials, the Float Tent was born!

After a huge success on Kickstarter we began our journey as a company. We got a factory, a distribution center, hired a whole team and made it through 3 years of startup. It was not easy, but we made it. Now the new Zen Float Tank brings everything we've learned into one amazing product.

Because of the huge amount of support we received on the Kickstarter last time, we thought it only made sense to come back and launch this new product on Kickstarter with the community that originally helped us get started. But we're not just back, we're back with the best thing to ever happen to the home floating market:

The NEW inflatable Zen Float Tank

This new tank is going to revolutionize how people experience the benefits of floating from their homes. It takes on an entirely different design, made from state-of-the-art drop-stitch technology and it is fully inflatable, unlike the original float tent.

Our goal with this new float tank is to make the setup process that much easier for owners, improve the durability of the tank and enhance the aesthetic of having a tank in your home.

With any new product, comes lots of new questions, so we compiled a list of FAQ's about the new tank to answer them all in one place.

FAQ About The Zen Float Tank

Q: What’s new about this tank?

Design

We stuck with the original pyramid design for the shape of the tank because it allows condensation from the warm-water to run down the sides of the tank and back into the tub, preventing water from dripping off the ceiling and interrupting your float.

Material

The Float Tent was made from stainless steel poles with a vinyl cover while the new tank is fully inflatable made from drop-stitch technology — similar to inflatable stand up paddle boards and kayaks.

Drop-stitching combines tens of thousands of finely woven threads connecting two pieces of polyester fabric. Each thread is evenly spaced between the two pieces of fabric, locking the unit into place and creating a rock-sturdy and solid inflatable product.

This new inflatable design is also more insulated than the previous vinyl cover because of the all the layering, making it 40% more efficient. This will help keep your tank and water warmer, and allows you to put it in less comfortable places like a basement or garage.

Heater Pads, Temperature Controller, Filtration

The new version will use the same heating pads, temperature controller, and filtration system as the previous edition. Thus, if you already have one of the original Float Tents, you can keep those and just purchase the new tank at a discounted rate (see below for details on upgrading your old zen tent).

Size

The old tent’s dimensions were 8’ x 4’ x 6’, with a volume of 77 cubic feet. The new tanks dimensions are 9'10" x 4' 9 " x 6'5", with a volume of 99 cubic feet. This results in a 28% increase in space, with more head room and more room in the bed to float.

Q: When does it launch on Kickstarter and what is the price?

Our Kickstarter officially launched, April 16, and will be running for 60 days. The Kickstarter prices run at a discount from what the regular price of the new tank will be. Below is a breakdown of the kickstarter pricing :- Upgrade $2200 - only available for previous Float Tent Owners- Earliest Bird Tanks $2,625 (-25%) - Sold Out- Early Bird Tank $2,800 (-20%) - 20 available at this price- Float Ready Package w/ Salt + Shipping (Lower 48 states only) $3,950 (-17%) - 30 available at this price- Multiple Tank Purchase Specials: 2 Tank Special - $5,040 (-28%) & 4 Tank Special - $9,520 (-32%)

Q: What about if you are a current Zen Float Tent owner?

If you already own the first Zen Float Tent you will be able to upgrade to the newer version. This upgrade will be available through Kickstarter. You will keep your current filtration system, temperature controller and heater pads and send back everything else.

Q: Which countries do we ship to?

During kickstarter we will only be shipping to the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. If you live in a different country and would like to purchase a tank, please email us at randall@zenfloatco.com

Q: Is the tent still available?

Yes, as of right now the Zen Float Tent is available, and will be until further notice. The tent can be purchased from our website at zenfloatco.com/shop

Whether you've been floating for years or just heard about it recently and have only experienced it one or two times, it's pretty easy to become hooked on that post-float feeling after you get out of the tank.

Your mind is calm and quiet, your skin is softer, your body feels almost reborn again, and every ounce of stress, pain, or tension you were once feeling is now completely non-existent. Sound familiar?

So now you've only got one of two options. Pay to visit a float center in your area (if you happen to even live near one) or really take your float practice to the next level by buying a float tank for your home.

5 costs to consider before you purchase a float tank

1. The Float Tank Itself

This is the most obvious cost to consider but it can also vary a lot depending on what type of float tank model you choose to purchase. Most float tank manufacturers should offer pricing right on their website but some may require you to fill out a form with your name and email.

Expect to pay anywhere from around $2,000 up to $30,000+ depending on the type of tank. A complete breakdown of all the different float tank types can be found in this post.

2. Shipping Costs

In most cases you will have to contact the float tank manufacturer directly to find out pricing based on your shipping address. The price can vary a lot depending on where you live around the world and also the weight of the actual float tank itself. While some tanks like the Zen Float Tank are designed to be light and easily shippable in one boxes, more commercial type models will require the tank to be delivered on a truck and professional installation

Expect to pay anywhere from $100 up to $1000+ for shipping.

3. Epsom Salt

Most people assume that buying a bulk order of epsom salt is going to cost thousands upon thousands of dollars. When in fact, epsom salt has become a lot more affordable to ship in bulk over the last couple of years with the rise of the float industry. Some websites offer live freight quotes while others will require you to fill out a form or order by phone to calculate shipping rates to your area.

Expect to pay anywhere from $500 up to $1000 for a pallet of epsom salt.

4. Water care and maintenance supplies

When it comes to storing 200+ gallons of water in your home, there is going to be a certain level of water care required in addition to the filtration system included with your tank. The main supplies you'll need are a hydrometer, PH Up and PH down, Hydrogen Peroxide (preferably 35%), test strips, and a water skimmer. The nice thing is that all of these items can be found online, through Amazon, or at your local pool supply store. Some may even be included with your float tank purchase.

Expect anywhere from $50-$100 a year for supplies.

5. Ongoing costs

Last but not least of costs to consider are the ongoing costs. What makes owning a float tank nice is that after you've invested in your initial setup, there are only a small amount of ongoing costs to maintain it. In a lot of cases, you will even recoup your initial investment within the first 1-2 years of owning a float tank if you happen to already be floating at a center more than 3-4 times a month. The main ongoing costs are going to be the electrical costs to heat the tank as well as buying and replacing the epsom salt every 2 years or so.

While we can’t speak for everyone because electricity rates can vary so much between country to country and even state to state, you can expect to pay anywhere between $20-$100/month to heat your float tank.

Is owning a float tank right for you?

Buying a float tank is sort of like buying a car. You don't just buy a car and then never put another dime into it again. You have to pay for gas, regular oil changes, monthly insurance and every so often you're required to invest in a new set of tires or brakes.

However, we typically justify paying these costs because of the convenience of having your own car as opposed to taking public transportation or the freedom that having your own car gives you to go where you want and drive yourself or whomever you please.

This same concept applies to buying a float tank. At first you might think, "Wow, isn't this a huge investment just for my health and well-being?" but in the long run, owning your very own float tank also gives you the ability to float whenever at your convenience.